Wax and asphalt (bitumen) packs

ABSTRACT

Asphalt or wax is packed in fabric bags which may be lined with paper which in turn is coated to prevent sticking to the wax or asphalt. The filling of the bags can be carried out while the bag is supported in a container floating atop a water bath, following which the container and filled bag sink into the water to float the bag from the container. The water bath also hastens cooling of the hot asphalt or wax.

[451 Sept. 3, 1974 United States Patent [191 Dunbar 2,584,632 2/1952 Southwick, Jr. 3,007,608 11/1961 Cox, Jr. 3,469,363 9/l969 Berckmoes Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Assistant Examiner-*Horace M. Culver Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Byron O. Dimmick l N n e d .m 7 9 l n7 34 P 1. w wn CJ2 0 N .ml 9.. m. P FA 1] 2.1 22 ll ABSTRACT Asphalt or wax is packed in fabric bags which may be with paper which in turn is coated to prevent to the wax or asphalt. The filling of the bags can be carried out while the bag is supported in a conee m m a .10.. hfl w s m n mh wam r m wb w 08f mm. g tmmm n n w m buv m a r o r mmm n w sum 9 mfm m Pdm mmmm fiC g .mmm ta a f ommo em maw mcbc Bus 33. 55 S T m N m mm d eAm Pm m wwm nA. m.wm e ll TTHH... .mSAGG D RE785 T334 .999 NHHH U986 720 602 m 3 5 ,3 [l 222 n :::::::::::ltttl: i

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FIGURE I WAX AND ASPHALT (BITUMEN) PACKS This invention relates to the production of wax and asphalt (bitumen) packs.

Asphalt is generally packed in steel drums or metal cans and is filled at temperatures ranging from 120C. to 220C. Where steel drums or metal cans are found uneconomic or where it is required to meet the needs of small users, asphalt marketers have resorted to paper bags or cartons which, internally, are either coated with silicone or lined/coated with a nylon, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride film. Asphalt filled in such bags or cartons at a high temperature takes about 12 to 20 hours to cool down to an ambient temperature at which it can be handled for despatch. During this period, the filled bags have to be stored in containers/canisters made of metal or the cartons have to be kept on conveyors or pallets. The long period of cooling down of asphalt after it is filled in a pack puts a limit on production efficiency and necessitates large storing facility and employment of a large number of pallets or lengthy conveyors, which all entail high cost of production and delay in turn-over.

One object of this invention is to reduce the period of cooling of the asphalt in the pack by immersing the pack in a tank of water soon after it is filled with hot asphalt. Another object of this invention is to construct a pack from which asphalt does not leak or into which the water does not get.

In one aspect, the invention involves a process for packing hot wax or asphalt comprising, inserting a bag formed with an opening in a container adapted to receive water into said'container, filling hot wax or asphalt into the bag through said opening, closing said opening, and lowering said container with the filled bag into water whereby said filled bag floats out of said container.

In another aspect, the invention also relates to a bag for packaging hot wax or asphalt comprising an outer layer of a woven fibrous fabric, said fabric being internally coated with a thin layer of a. material selected from the group consisting of asphalt, wax or polyethylene, a paper layer adjacent said thin layer, and an innermost layer or coating of silicone or plastic film to prevent sticking of said paper to said asphalt or wax.

This invention also provides an integrated process for manufacturing asphalt packs at a comparatively low cost. It comprises the following steps:

a. Manufacturing a laminated sheet material comprising a fabric woven loosely from fibres like jute (hessain), sisal or coir, or any fabric which is not adversely affected by the temperature of asphalt or by water, one side of the fabric being coated with a thin layer of asphalt and then lined with a sheet of paper such as kraft paper which is either coated with silicone on its exposed surface or its exposed surface is lined/coated with a plastic film capable of withstanding the temperature of molten asphalt depending upon the grades of asphalt to be filled;

b. Manufacturing a bag by stitching a piece of the laminated sheet material (a) along the bottom, side edges and the top leaving a small opening in the c. Inserting the bag in a canister of metal or other material with the top of the bag projecting out of it, the bottom and/or sides of the canister being adapted to receive water into it;

(I. Filling the hot asphalt into the bag through the lapelled opening at the top leaving a small air space;

e. Stapling or stitching the opening at the top of the f. Lowering the canister with the bag into the water tank, the bag slowly rising out of the canister and floating away on the water; and

g. Keeping the bag in the water tank till it cools to an ambient temperature or it sinks.

The same process is amenable to packing of waxes.

This invention provides a process for packing hot wax or asphalt comprising the following steps: (a) manufacturing a sheet material from a fabric woven from fibres like jute (hessain), sisal or coir, one side of the fabric being coated with a thin layer of asphalt and then lined with a sheet of paper which, on its exposed surface, is either coated with silicone or lined/coated with a film of a plastic material capable of withstanding the temperature of the wax or asphalt to be filled; (b) manufacturing from a piece of sheet material (a) a bag of predetermined dimensions leaving a small opening at the top, preferably folding in the edge of the opening to form a lapel; (c) inserting the bag in a metal container adapted to receive water into it from its bottom and/or sides, leaving the top of the bag projecting out of the container;'(d) filling hot wax or asphalt into the bag through the opening, lapelled or otherwise, in the topof the bag, (e) stapling or stitching or otherwise sealing the opening, lapelled or otherwise, in the top of the bag; (f) lowering the container with the filled bag into a water tank, the depth of the water being at least double the height of the container, when the bag floats out of the container; and (g) keeping the bag in the tank till it cools sufficiently or sinks.

In an embodiment of this invention, the paper and the plastic film may be replaced by a lamination of a plurality of them, the innermost surface being either a plastic film or a coat of silicone.

In another embodiment of this invention, the fibrefabric bag coated and lined as aforesaid with paper may cover another bag of paper coated inside with silicone or a bag of laminate of paper and a plastic film capable of withstanding the temperature of the wax or asphalt to be filled or a bag of a plurality of such laminates. In a sub-embodiment, there is interposed between the outer and the inner bags, an additional bag of a metal foil or a tough material either loose or laminated with either the outer or the inner bag or both. Such a bag may be used to pack softer grades of asphalt.

When hot wax or asphalt is poured into the bag and the opening at the top of the bag is stapled or stitched, the asphalt layer between the fibre/fabric sheet and the paper melts with the heat of the contents of the bag and assists in sealing the opening. The sealing is further improved when the water covers the stapled/stitched portion and quenches the asphalt along the opening.

The asphalt used to coat the fabric also serves the purpose of providing stiffness to the bag which prevents the sagging of the bag while being filled.

In another embodiment of this invention, the fabric can be laminated to paper with polyethylene instead of asphalt.

While silicone coated paper is used for making packs for hot filling of asphalt of grades 8/15, 10/20, /25 and even /40, it is not quite suitable for the grades 50/60, 60/70, 70/90 and 80/100 especially in hot climates. However, paper lined or coated with nylon, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene can be used in the manufacture of packs for the latter grades. In these cases, the coated/lined material adheres to the asphalt and is removed with it. Generally in the applications where such grades of asphalt are used, there is no adverse effect resulting from nylon, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene film combining with asphalt when it is subsequently heated for use. Nylon, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene melts partially or completely and, if necessary, the undissolved portion can be removed by strainer devices.

This invention is now described with reference to the annexed drawings without prejudice to the generality of the claims made hereafter.

FIGS. 1(a) and I(b) show a section of the laminated sheet material out of which the bag is stitched.

FIG. II shows the bag stitched along its bottom, one vertical edge and a part of the top.

FIG. II(a) shows the same bag with the opening folded in to form a lapelled opening suitable for filling the asphalt with a vertical pipe.

FIG. II(b) shows the same bagwith the opening folded in to'form a lapelled'opening suitable for filling the asphalt with a horizontal pipe.

FIG. III shows the same bag inserted in a canister.

FIG. III(a) shows the canister with the bag inside it in a side section.

FIG. IV shows the same bag in the canister with its lapelled opening in the top closed by stapling or stitchmg.

FIG. V shows the canister with the bag in the water tank in the different stages (i), (ii) and (iii). 1

In FIG. 1(a), the letters a, b, c, and d indicate the lay ers of a jute fabric, asphalt layer, paper and plastic film. In FIG. I(b) the letters a, b, c and e indicate the layers of a jute fabric, asphalt layer, paper and silicone coatmg.

In FIG. II, the letters ABCD indicate a bag of the laminated sheet material illustrated in FIGS. 1(a) or I(b) stitched along the bottom AB, the side BC and up to the point E along CD, leaving the portion ED open. In FIG. II(a) the edge of the opening ED of FIG. II is turned in to form a lapel along KE for filling the bag with a vertical pipe. In FIG. II( b) the edge of the opening ED in FIG. II is turned in to form a lapel along KE for filling the bag with ,a horizontal pipe. In FIG. III, the bag ABCEK is inserted in a canister FGHJ with lapelled edge EK left open and it is filled with hot asphalt through the lapelled opening EK. FIG. III(a) simply shows the same arrangement in a side section. In FIG.

IV, the lapelled opening EK is stitched. The notation (i) in FIG. V shows the canister with the bag immersed in water tank X, and the bag coming out of the canister owing to its lightness. The notation (ii) in FIG. V shows the bag turned over and floating at the surface of the water. After the bag has cooled sufficiently, it sinks to the bottom of the water X as shown by notation (iii) in FIG. V.

What I claim is:

1. A process for packaging asphalt or wax which comprises the following steps:

a. inserting a bag, having an opening at the top thereof, into a supporting container open at its upper end and freely receiving said bag, said container being of sufficient size that a free space "about said bag will remain when said bag has been filled;

b. filling said bag with hot asphalt or wax through said opening;

c. thereafter closing and sealing said opening;

d. immersing said container with said bag therein into a body of water of sufficient depth to permit said bag to float out of said container;

e. then removing said bag from the container by the buoyant force of water entering said container around said bag.

2. A process according to claim 1, which includes manufacturing a sheet material from a fabric woven from fibers like jute (hessain), sisal or coir, one side of the fabric being coated with a thin layer of asphalt, wax or polyethylene, and then lined with a sheet of paper which, on its exposed surface, is either coated with silicone or lined/coated with a film of a plastic material capable of withstanding the temperature of the wax or asphalt to be filled, and manufacturing from said sheet material said bag of predetermined dimensions leaving an opening at the top.

- 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein said bag comprises an outer woven fibrous fabric layer internally coated with asphalt, polyethylene, or wax; a paper layer adjacent said asphalt or wax; and a layer of either silicone or plastic film on the internal surface of said paper.

4. A process for packaging hot wax or asphalt as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bag coated with asphalt internally and lined with paper serves as an outer bag and covers: an inner bag which is a bag of paper coated inside with silicone, or a bag of a laminate of paper and plastic film capable of withstanding the temperature of the asphalt to be filled, or a bag of a plurality of such laminates.

5. A process for packaging hot wax or asphalt as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is interposed between said outer and the inner bag, an additional bag of a metal foil or a tough material, either loose or laminated with either the outer or the inner bag or both. 

1. A process for packaging asphalt or wax which comprises the following steps: a. inserting a bag, having an opening at the top thereof, into a supporting container open at its upper end and freely receiving said bag, said container being of sufficient size that a free space about said bag will remain when said bag has been filled; b. filling said bag with hot asphalt or wax through said opening; c. thereafter closing and sealing said opening; d. immersing said container with said bag therein into a body of water of sufficient depth to permit said bag to float out of said container; e. then removing said bag from the container by the buoyant force of water entering said container around said bag.
 2. A process according to claim 1, which includes manufacturing a sheet material from a fabric woven from fibers like jute (hessain), sisal or coir, one side of the fabric being coated with a thin layer of asphalt, wax or polyethylene, and then lined with a sheet of paper which, on its exposed surface, is either coated with silicone or lined/coated with a film of a plastic material capable of withstanding the temperature of the wax or asphalt to be filled, and manufacturing from said sheet material said bag of predetermined dimensions leaving an opening at the top.
 3. A process according to claim 1, wherein said bag comprises an outer woven fibrous fabric layer internally coated with asphalt, polyethylene, or wax; a paper layer adjacent said asphalt or wax; and a layer of either silicone or plastic film on the internal surface of said paper.
 4. A process for packaging hot wax or asphalt as claimed in claim 3, wherein said bag coated with asphalt internally and lined with paper serves as an outer bag and covers: an inner bag which is a bag of paper coated inside with silicone, or a bag of a laminate of paper and plastic film capable of withstanding the temperature of the asphalt to be filled, or a bag of a plurality of such laminates.
 5. A process for packaging hot wax or asphalt as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is interposed between said outer and the inner bag, an additional bag of a metal foil or a tough material, either loose or laminated with either the outer or the inner bag or both. 